“Arial photo of a person swimming in the ocean.” Image Credit: Courtesy of Ishan from Unsplash.com.

We have the utmost control over one thing and only that one thing:our perception. I've lived days where I believe to be the only one on Earth and days that I don't even feel like I was present for. Addressing perception, especially proceeding the holidays is vital. The holidays are the times where we deal with family and loved ones and there can sometimes be high tensions. You can't change your family, no, but you can change how you see your family, how you interact with them, and how you feel about them. How can we use our perception to not only think that we are happy but to truly feel happiness? By reading onward friends!

“Photo of botanicals by Sutro Baths, in San Francisco.”Photo Credit: Nicole Wiehe, All Rights Reserved.

I never thought I’d live past 18. I didn’t have a fatal illness, nor was I planning on being a part of some freak accident… I was planning on a full blown act of suicide. I figured life was absolute bullshit and I wasn’t interested in playing the game. At the too-early age of 16, I said fuck it and gave suicide a try. Obviously I failed, which turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me… accidentally.